September 19, 2006

Wellesley Public Schools
School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Wellesley High School Library

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 7:40 pm. Mr. Young , Ms. Allen, Ms. Jablonski, Ms. Littlefield, and Ms. Newman were present. Also present were Dr. King and Ms.Wong. Representing the Student Congress was John McDermott.

Mr. Young announced that the agenda would be limited to discussion of the high school project.

Ms. Jablonski paid tribute to high school principal Rena Mirkin, who last week informed the faculty and student body of her intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year.

Mr. Young then welcomed Frank Locker, of DeJong, Inc., who has been consulting with the school committee and the community for several months about a renovated Wellesley High School. Dr. Locker presented a thorough review of the objectives of the process he has led since spring 2006, including needs analysis, educational goals, and visioning. Work is now underway to refine space needs. The architect will soon be in a position to develop planning options based upon the results of this work which, in turn, will be subject to further review by faculty and the community. This work has been based on school structure, and not school curriculum. Planning is additionally challenged by the existing site characteristics, marked by flood plain, wetlands, the existing building, street, and zoning limitations. Phased construction is also a consideration.

The school committee has established a land task force to scrutinze carefully all the parcels of land adjacent to the high school, researching deeds and any existing restrictions in an effort to identify possible options for either temporary or permanent use.

Dr. Locker cited examples of how a refurbished, renovated school will serve its purpose, including:
• allow for evolution of teaching practices
• look for similarities of space to share instead of isolated highly specific places
• improve student access to teachers and administrators
• support highly specialized needs
• support social and emotional lives of students and teachers

In reply to further questions from the school committee, Dr. Locker noted that addressing concerns about meeting the needs of a variable enrollment will be challenged by the presence of adjacent wetlands such that there is no immediately identifiable zone for future construction. It appears that the committee will have to consider options that are site appropriate rather than counting on flexible use of the site.

Assistant Superintendent Bella Wong reported on the results of her extensive conversations with high school faculty about allocations of space. The project will seek to accommodate projected staff, but planning is focused on developing appropriate classroom space, with a base number of twelve classrooms for each academic department.

School committee concurred that planning has not been conclusive regarding issues related to community use of the high school for non academic reasons, such as swimming pool, hockey rink, larger auditorium, as well as possible community rental of academic areas, when available. The committee also discussed
• lab space (dry labs; wet labs)
• anticipated reductions in restrictions on uses of space with continued refinements in technology
• space requirements for non core courses (electives)
• returning out-of-district student placements to in-house programs, space permitting
• number and size of gym (or gyms)
• location of the library

Dr. Locker asserted that the purpose of the current work is to develop an ideal statement about a future school, which the architect will then apply to the existing building and site. A key variable will be how much of the existing building is retained and how much is removed.

Revised MSBA standards have now been made public. Wellesley has submitted letters of intent regarding both the middle school project and a high school project, with hopes of qualifying for reimbursement. The reimbursement list will open June 2007. Ms. Allen cautioned against requesting Town Meeting approval of a project proposal which assumes reimbursement.

School Committee will continue to discuss and refine the parameters of the project next week, mindful of several criteria, including • core values • historical college prep emphasis • core curriculum • instructional preferences • state and federal mandates • rationale for non core programs • fitness and heatlh• competitive athletics and other future school programs • value to the community • possible separation of fine arts from performing arts and fitness program from health curriculum. In hoping to bring a request forward to Annual Town Meeting for approval of schematic design funds, School Committee acknowledged that there remain other issues requiring continued discussion and resolution, including • identification of swing space for phased construction • refinement of preliminary education specifications •parking options • administrative structure • scheduling • results of the task force work to survey all adjacent parcels of land.

CITIZEN SPEAK
MICHAEL FOSTER, Elmwood Road: Addressing actions by the school committee in June 2006 when it approved compensation increases of 10% for the superintendent and 4-4.5% for principals and administrators in the immediate wake of the town’s approval of a significant tax override in May, Mr. Foster registered opposition to what was done and suggested that the credibility of the School Committee has been compromised, which may impact the town’s response when future major capital projects such as the high school are brought forward. He suggested school administrators give back a portion of their salaries to benefit the schools and further suggested that school committee members apologize to the town.

SHARMAN O’KEEFE, Precinct A: Ms. O’Keefe expressed concern for the safety and health of students in schools that are being renovated and promised to elaborate her concerns in an email to the committee.

ADJOURNMENT
The public session was adjourned at 9:40 pm

Executive Secretary